Classical swine fever (CSF) is a highly contagious viral disease of
domestic pigs and wild boars with severe consequences on animal
welfare, livestock production, trade and national economy. We investigated
if colostral antibodies in piglets, originating from sows vaccinated
with Chine strain (C-strain) and challenged with CSF virus, affected
the distribution of the B and T lymhocites in mandibular lymph
nodes. Nineteen 45 days old cross breed pigs of both sexes were divided
in three groups. All animals in the first group, originating from
sows vaccinated with C-strain vaccine were serologically positive for
the presence of specific colostral CSF virus antibodies. The second
group consisted of pigs originating from unvaccinated sows serologically
negative for CSF virus antibodies. Three healthy pigs serologically
negative for the presence of CSF virus antibodies, originating from unvaccinated
sows against CSF virus served as a control group. In the
group of animals originating from unvaccinated sows against CSF, severe
depletion of CD79 positive B lymphocytes was detected. In the
group of pigs originating from sows vaccinated with C-strain (CSF virus
antibody positive group of pigs), a reduced number of CD79 positive B
lymphocytes was detected, but B cells were still present in the periphery
of the germinative centres of secondary lymph follicles. There was
an increase of the number of CD3 positive cells in the mandibular lymph
nodes of pigs with or without maternal antibodies.